Rack & Ruin (THIRDS 3)

“You got a ride?”

“Yeah, I brought my car. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Cael headed off before Dex could utter a word. Well, so much for that.

It was a breezy night, cool but not enough to warrant a jacket. Soon the leaves would be turning. It was hard to believe it was almost a year since his life had been turned upside down and he’d joined the THIRDS. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Climbing into the passenger seat of Sloane’s Impala, Dex felt as if he’d known the guy for years rather than months. He loved that he got to hang out with Sloane at work and out of it. He didn’t know if that would change further down the line, but right now he’d make the most of it.

“Do you want to stay the night?” he asked Sloane. He knew his partner preferred to stay over at Dex’s house and slept over at least three to four times a week while Dex slept over at Sloane’s maybe once a week. Dex didn’t dare mention that Sloane should have his own key to the house. It wasn’t long ago the word boyfriend had scared the ever living fuck out of Sloane. Dex had to remind himself to take things slow. Not an easy task. Dex was crazy about the guy.

“You mind staying at mine? I have to do laundry.”

“Sure.”

As they headed for Sloane’s apartment across town, Dex held back a smile when he felt Sloane take hold of his hand as he drove. It was hard to gauge how comfortable Sloane was with their relationship, seeing as how they spent a good portion of their time hiding it from their fellow teammates.

“Did you enjoy your party?”

Dex nodded. “I did.”

“You look unsure.”

It was strange. He was unsure. “Ever since I was a kid, I’d have these huge birthday parties. I didn’t even care who came as long as there were lots of people. I had a blast. I don’t remember a lot of my college parties, so I’m going to assume they were pretty sweet. Thing is, tonight, I don’t think I would have cared if no one showed up as long as you, my brother, and the team were there.”

“Really?” Sloane sounded surprised.

“Yeah. Don’t get me wrong. I had an awesome time. But I enjoyed myself most when I was with the team. With you.”

“Wow.”

“I know.”

“Does that mean you know what you’re going to do for your actual birthday party?”

“I’ve got an idea.” Dex was going to have a chat with Bradley, see if he could arrange to have his party at Bar Dekatria. He didn’t know what it was about the place, but he felt at home there. A huge part of that most likely had to do with the fact Bradley not only put up with his eighties karaoke but encouraged him. The guy had even added new songs just for Dex.

They spent the rest of the car ride the same way they spent every other car ride together, with Dex attempting to change the station to Retro Radio, Sloane threatening him with grievous bodily harm, and Dex ultimately getting his way. Sloane would pretend he still had some form of control by forbidding Dex to sing along to whatever cheesy eighties song came on, Dex would pout, and within seconds he’d be singing along to “King of Wishful Thinking.”

“You are most definitely the king of wishful thinking,” Sloane teased.

“I’m going to take that as a compliment. Did you know in the film Pretty Woman the opera they go to is La Traviata, which is about a prostitute falling in love with a wealthy man?”

“You’re like a walking, talking version of Trivial Pursuit. The 1980s edition.”

Dex donned his snootiest voice. “First of all, Pretty Woman was 1990. Second of all, I believe it’s called Trivial Pursuit Totally 80s.”

Sloane’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. You own it don’t you?”

“One of the player pieces is a Care Bear,” Dex admitted.

“Why haven’t I seen it around the house?”

“Because it’s stored in the basement,” Dex said, turning his gaze outside the window. He really should have kept his mouth shut. Now Sloane would probably ask—

“What else is down there?”

Yep. He’d really stuck his size tens in it this time. Talk about opening a can of worms. Not the sugary rainbow-colored sour ones or the gummy ones. Those were good. He could have sworn he’d had a pack of the sour ones in his sweet stash at work only three days ago. It was probably Cael. That gummy-worm-thieving little—

“Dex?”

“Huh?” Dex blinked at him. “Oh, sorry. What’s in my basement? Um, stockpiles of toilet paper in case the Zombie Apocalypse ever comes.”